title: Recurrent miscarriage and cervical human papillomavirus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and recurrent miscarriage (RM).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective case-control study, 49 women with unexplained RM (Group 1 - cases) and 475 women without any miscarriage and with at least one pregnancy at term (Group 2 - controls) were checked for cervical HPV infection through Hybrid Capture(®) II (HC 2) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  HPV+ DNA tests were detected in 13 (26.53%) RM women and in 294 (61.89%) control women (P < 0.001). The prevalence rate in HPV+DNA tests was significantly different in the 30-39 years age range. No differences between groups were detected in HPV types, nor in the cytological and histological findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with RM have a lower prevalence of HPV+DNA tests than controls. This suggests that immune reactivity potentially leading to RM could be in some way protective against genital HPV infection.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Section of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ticconi
authors.forename: Adalgisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietropolli
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: Maria Vittoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Capogna
authors.forename: Carlo Federico
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Perno
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piccione
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D015344:DNA Probes, HPV; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007558:Italy; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015344:DNA Probes, HPV; D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: Cervical infection; human papillomavirus; recurrent miscarriage